Former Coronation Street star turned MP says she quit the soap six months pregnant after having to make the choice between her career and her family.

Tracy Brabin, now Labour MP for Batley and Spen, said she “tried everything” to juggle playing Tricia Armstrong on Corrie from 1994 to 1997 with caring for a toddler at home.

And she said as soon as women start to show signs of being pregnant they have to stop work in the world of acting.

She told the Commons debate on maternity discrimination: “I would say there is no small link between the fact we don’t see women on TV who are just getting on with their jobs and then women in, for example, Sports Direct giving birth in the toilets.

Tracy Brabin making her maiden speech in the House of Commons

“There is a profound link. If we don’t see it, we can’t be it, and if we don’t see it, we can’t deal with it.”

Ms Brabin told MPs “no progress has been made” in the world of work since her experience two decades ago, the Mirror reports.

“When as an actor you start to show, you absolutely stop working,” she said.

“So what would be normally for most women a moment of joy and delight - it is absolutely replaced by panic.

“When I was offered the part of Sarah Ferguson in a film for ABC TV I hid the fact that I was pregnant because I knew they would fire me.

“And I was so far down the line then they had to accommodate my circumstances.

“An actor is a worker and they shouldn’t be put in those positions where they have to lie to their employer.”

Tracy as Tricia Armstrong with screen baby Brad in 1997

The debate was prompted by figures estimating maternity discrimination forces up to 54,000 women out of work each year - costing the taxpayer £17million.

Ms Brabin, who complained few pregnant women are given TV parts even today, did not allege discrimination by the makers of Corrie.